Cambridge Bay youth soaking up knowledge, seeing sights in Toronto

Four members of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) and two chaperones set off for a week-long trip to Toronto on July 5.

They’re getting feedback from professors and senior students at York University, where they’re staying, about initiatives they’re working toward.

Members of Cambridge Bay’s Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council and a pair of chaperones were at Rogers Centre earlier this week to take in a Blue Jays baseball game. Front left, manager of recreation and culture Francis Oduro and Corbyn Tait Klengenberg. Back row, from left, chaperone Tetra Susanne Aaluk, Mackenzie Rose Otokiak, Ayisha Eyegetok and Kobe Aknavigak. photo courtesy of the Hamlet of Cambridge Bay

“There’s a cultural exchange component too. There’s kids from down there that they’re meeting with and talking to – lots of friendships form really quickly,” said Marla Limousin, Cambridge Bay’s senior administrative officer.

Other items on the itinerary include shopping at the Eaton Centre, a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game, lounging at the beach, a side trip to Niagara Falls, the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, the Ontario Science Centre, a stop at Canada’s Wonderland, horseback riding an IMAX movie and bowling.

MYAC is responsible to relay the community’s youth issues to hamlet council. Youth councillors, ages 14 to 18, focus on topics such as sports and recreation; culture; and science, technology, engineering and math. They work through various issues; record minutes and other engage in other official council procedures; and they hold fundraising activities such as dances, which helped pay for this trip.

“It’s about developing them as leaders,” said Limousin.

MYAC’s full council comprises eight members but some of them had other commitments and therefore didn’t travel to Ontario’s capital.

Derek Neary has been reporting on developments in the North for 18 years. When he's not writing for Nunavut News, he's working on Northern News Services' special publications such as Opportunities North, NWT & Nunavut Mining, Construction and Degrees of Success. Derek's passion lies in human interest stories and he's indebted to those who share their struggles and triumphs. He has won more than a dozen journalism awards and has a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of King's College.